A quote is a price and a scope of work, not yet a binding agreement. Until you sign a contract, the company can usually change the number, the equipment, or the schedule, and you can still walk away. Most surprises come from the gap between the quote you liked and the contract you end up signing, so treat them as two separate steps and check each one.
Find the expiration date
Many quotes state how long the price stays valid. Look for a validity period or a 'good through' date. If the quote has none, ask for one in writing. A quote that expires before you have finished comparing bids is a reason to ask for an extension, not a reason to rush. Put the date on your own calendar.
Confirm what the price actually holds for
Ask whether the price covers only the equipment listed, or also installation labor, permits, connections, and any site work the crew finds once the walls or floor are open. A price that holds for the unit but not for the hookup is a different price than the one you thought you were comparing. Ask which conditions would trigger a revised number, and who must approve that revision before any extra work starts.
Read the payment schedule
Get every payment point written down before you sign: the deposit, any progress payments, the amount due at delivery, and the final payment. Ask whether the deposit is refundable if you cancel, and what the company keeps if you do. Ask what the final payment is tied to. A stronger position is a final payment due after startup checks are complete and the handoff visit has happened, rather than when the crew loads the truck. Ask for each amount as a dollar figure or a percentage written into the contract.
Make the contract carry the quote
The signed contract should either repeat the quote's line items or attach the quote and state that it is part of the agreement. Check that the equipment model, the number of units, the scope of connections, removal of any old equipment, and the startup visit all appear. Anything the salesperson promised that is not on paper is not yet a commitment. Ask for it to be added in writing, or accept that you cannot count on it.
Pin down when the warranty starts
Warranty periods often begin on the install date, the startup date, or the date you sign, and the contract should say which one applies. Ask which document holds the warranty terms and whether it is attached to the contract. Keep the signed copy with your other paperwork. Confirm the terms before you sign so you know which clock is running from the first day.
Questions to put in writing before you sign
Ask these and keep the answers with the contract:
- What is the quote's expiration date, and does the price hold through the install date?
- Does the price cover the equipment, labor, permits, and connections, or only some of them?
- What conditions would change the price, and who must approve the change before work starts?
- How much is the deposit, is it refundable, and what is the full payment schedule?
- What is the final payment tied to?
- Does the contract list the same model, quantity, and scope of work as the quote?
- When does the warranty start, and where are its terms written?
If an answer comes back as a verbal assurance with nothing on paper, ask for the wording to be added before you sign. A company that stands behind its price and its work will usually put it in writing without argument.